Highgate Labour councillor Michael Nicolaides is stepping down from his seat on Camden Council.

The former special constable beat the Green Party to be elected as one of two Labour councillors to the ward in May 2010.

However, the accountant, who has recently married, feels he can no longer give the time to his case work and political activities that he would like to.

Theo Blackwell, Camden Labour’s finance chief, said: “Michael is pretty much born and bred in Camden, but unfortunately he doesn’t feel that he can give up the time the post deserves.

“It is a pity but life doesn’t in neat four year bundles.”

Cllr Nicolaides became the youngest representative to chair the council’s licensing committee, a post which his experience working with the police gave him a special insight into.

No date has been set for the pending by-election, and the parties have yet to announce their candidates.